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Appleyard: Gen. Andrew Jackson should be well-remembered by all Floridians

John Appleyard, Pensacola History
Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 15, 2018

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A bust of Andrew Jackson commemorates the transfer of West Florida from Spain to the United States that took place in Pensacola's Plaza Ferdinand VII on July 17, 1821.(Photo11: Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com)Buy Photo

As 2018's weeks pass by, the community's history-minded note that the city soon — July 17 — will recognize the day in 1821 when Gov. (General) Andrew Jackson stood before the village's 900 citizens and ordered the change of flags, to make Florida part of the United States.

There now is a periodic re-enactment of that flag exchange, but there are few occasions when all can look back with even modest detail on what had preceded July 17. The beginning involved an unhappy series of incidents in what is now Alabama. Those events began as early as 1790.

Late in the 18th century, a number of land-hopeful citizens from Georgia slipped into the Creek Indian established territory which decades later would become Alabama. The Creeks protested, violence arose, and ultimately there was a massacre at Fort Mims, into which the threatened Georgia settlers had fled. More than 500 were killed. The federal government (and the governor of Tennessee) ordered Andrew Jackson's forces to act, and they did, marching south from Nashville. A battle was fought at Horseshoe Bend, with the Indians fully defeated. Shortly, the Creeks would begin their full retreat to the west.

Weeks later, with the War of 1812 in progress, British forces began plans for an invasion of the American South, hoping to use Mobile, Pensacola or New Orleans as the military point of entry. When their gathering was cited at Pensacola, Jackson again was ordered into the area. This was, technically, a movement onto the sovereign Spanish colony, and brief military action took place between the Spanish militia and General Jackson's men. The British, overestimating Jackson's might, departed, moving infantry and naval units with re-enforcement's west. Jackson, anticipating the British move to New Orleans, followed, and in January, met the red coats, producing a unique American victory.

Months passed. New brigands (probably including Seminole tribesmen) established a fort at what became Apalachicola and began raids upon the new Alabama plantations, stealing slaves. Property owners begged assistance, and again Jackson's army was ordered through North Florida. The fort's numbers were reduced, and Jackson also went farther east to capture a pair of spying former British officers — and — then "spanked" nearby Seminoles, whom he believed had been at the root of the recent problems. Only then did the Jackson force return to Tennessee.

There were several international protests of what the general had done in Florida, and some in President Monroe's cabinet urged that Jackson be court-martialed. Instead, on motion by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, action was taken to act — by treaty — to make Florida part of the United States, Adams telling his peers that such a move must come soon, and that the general's movements had illustrated the inability of the Spanish to resist action by force.

The result was the Adams-Onis Treaty, and it was that action that brought Gen. Jackson back once more, to make the exchange and to begin establishment of local governments. He remained here about 90 days, putting territorial, county and city governments in place. In October, 1821, he departed, never to return; however, those happenings paved the way to his presidency in 1829.

In 1958 several groups with history interests purchased and placed a memorial plaque in Plaza Ferdinand, to honor what Andrew Jackson did here, and to sustain his memory. On July 17, the events noted (along with others) will be recognized. Without question, the memory of Andrew Jackson is one to be well remembered by Floridians.

John Appleyard is a Pensacola historian and writes a weekly historical column in the Pensacola News Journal. His 15-minute films about Pensacola are viewable, without-charge, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In The Cottage, 213 E. Zaragossa St.